Sun Saviors for a Burnt Babe

The Boston area got its first serious beach day this week, so I took advantage and drove up the coast to Maine for a little outlet shopping and sunbathing. When I arrived home, I was totally sunburnt and my hair looked like dried seaweed. Enter the great new summer products I just received for testing!

Clinique just put out a great new batch of sun care products, including After Sun Rescue Balm ($20 for a big tube), which is saving my back quite literally at the moment. The balm is rich and soothing and so far has kept me from peeling. It also absorbs easily and doesn't leave a weird feeling residue like plain old aloe gel. I'm also digging the super-rich, unscented SPF 30 Face Cream ($17.50)for it's non-greasy moisturizing power. At that price, I'm ditching my Neutrogena SPF 20 Anti-Wrinkle moisturizer, which actually costs more.

I washed the sea salt and sand out with Redken's new Color Extend After-Sun Shampoo ($13)and After-Sun Mask ($15). Together they restored my hair to it's silky self after just one shower, and left it with some UV protection to boot. All the products in this line contain mango oil and have a very flowery scent. (If you're scent-sensitive they may not be for you.)

If your hair is medium to thick, the Sparkling Shield ($16) spray on color protector adds intense shine (it's full of miniscule gold glitter particles). Fine hair should be tied back first if you plan to use this product, as it can make it look thinner and oilier.

Clinique also just released a new line of sunless tanning and bronzing products - I haven't tried the airbrush spray or tinted lotions yet, but the dual-colored Almost Bronzer SPF 15 ($28.50) has prompted me to toss all my cheapo Maybelline (too dull) and Bonne Bell (too sparkly) powder bronzers. This one is PERFECT and worth the markup! It goes on very sheer and has just a tiny hint of shimmer in it. This coming from a fair skinned girl who has never found a shade that looked human before.

NARS Reveals Summer 2009 Products

NARS is one of the few brands that is not a bff of Hearts Like Stars yet (We've reached out a few times... maybe they're just not down with bloggers?) so I can't give you the skinny on the texture and lasting power of the colors they released today. What I can say is that the look is bold, but at the same time, sophisticated. I'm a big fan of the upcoming orange lipstick trend.

The model is wearing new single eyeshadow in Tropic ($22), lip liner in Tonga ($20) and lipstick in Outsider ($24). The entire summer 2009 collection is pictured at left. Notice there is no blush? Don't do it if you're wearing eyes and lips this bold! A dusting of bronzer is all the color you need.

(Product and model images via NARScosmetics.com. Click to enlarge.)

Fall 2009 Makeup Trends

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Color! So glad it's sticking around beyond the spring and summer seasons for 2009. Dior's models rocked the rainbow at the Fall 2009 show, and the old 80's up-to-the-eyebrows trend seems to be back with a vengeance. So long as you choose a flattering color for yourself, I say go nuts.

A slash of black liquid liner along the top lids is a classic look, but I like how they also lined the crease to create a longer eye at Moschino. At Vivienne Westwood they punked out the usually ladylike look by applying liner to the entire lid. Try Urban Decay's Liquid Liner in Perversion ($18 - P.S. I find the liners with brushes as opposed to "felt tips" create a cleaner line.)

Usually a summer makeup trend, bright coral showed up on lips and cheeks in two fall shows. Combined with a complementary bright pink lip or a doll-like smoky eye, when done lightly this color is completely wearable on most skin tones. Zac's model is wearing M.A.C. Cosmetics - Eyeshadow in Blackberry ($14.50)and Lipstick in Morange ($14.50). Betsey's model is wearing Stila - Long wear lip color in Hippie ($17)and Convertible Color in Gladiola ($25)on cheeks.

This is a strong look and a tough one to pull off, but with the right evening ensemble (I'd go with something simple, with a feminine accent like a ruffle or bow just for contrast) the goth lipped look can be done. Betsey's model is wearing Stila Cosmetics - Onyx Kajal eyeliner ($18) and Convertible Color in Poppy ($25), both on the lips.

I'm not a big bronzer gal myself, but toned down the full lid of shimmery brown shadow and a peachy nude blush can look really soft. Back in the day this went hand in hand with a heavily shaded brow - I like how they left them natural at the Chloe show (pictured.) Try Smashbox eyeshadow in Sienna ($16), layered with Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy shadow ($14).

And the best for last - conceptual God John Galliano sent the ghosts of gypsies past down the runway for fall, and thanks to some equally masterful makeup artistry, models looked like abandoned childhood dolls left to freeze in a blizzard.

Eyeshadow was applied to the entire socket of each eye, with the inner corners and browbones highlighted with a dash of metallic cream to prevent a completely punched-out look. Cheekbones were carved out with plum powder and brought forward with cool metallic highlighter.

I'm really fascinated by the way it was done, so be on the lookout for a how-to in the future.
A great highlighter I recently tested? Smashbox 2-in-1 Luminizing Primer. ($34 for .98 oz.)

Stila Honors Barbie's 50th with a Special Collection

Although she doesn't look it (chalk it up to botox - it's not like those boobs are real) Barbie turns 50 years old this year. To celebrate this occasion, America's favorite source of female body dysmorphia will be launching another cosmetics collaboration, on the heels of 2007's $9 million success with MAC Cosmetics.

This year, Barbie Loves Stila. Instead of separately-sold shades like they did with MAC, Mattel and Stila created four separate boxed sets ("beauty cans" ...ew) representing different stages of Barbie's evolution:

Ponytail Doll (a liquid eyeliner and a three-pan compact with two eye shadows and blush)
Malibu Barbie (a pale pink Lip Glaze called Malibu, a black mascara and a compact with two eye shadows and a bronzer)
Foxy Doll (mascara and a compact with two eye shadows and a blush)
Jewel Doll (bright pink Lip Glaze called Jewel, a Multi-Effect Mascara and a compact with two eye shadows and a blush)

Each will sell for $40 exclusively at Sephora. Considering a Stila eyeshadow is $18 and a lip glaze is $22, this will be a good deal providing that all the colors are nice.

Side Note: Am I crazy or does afro Barbie just look like a white Barbie with a really fake-looking tan? Unless it's supposed to be black Barbie post-LaToya Jackson rhinoplasty?